Meaning
threatening, menacing
In a sentence
Mi ha mandato un messaggio molto minaccioso ieri.
He sent me a very threatening message yesterday.
Perché mi guardi con quell'aria minacciosa?
Why are you looking at me with that threatening expression?
Il cane non sembra minaccioso, vuole solo giocare.
The dog doesn't seem threatening, it just wants to play.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| minaccioso | masculine · singular |
| minacciosa | feminine · singular |
| minacciosi | masculine · plural |
| minacciose | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use for looks, tone, gestures, clouds, or situations. For a direct verbal threat, minacciare or fare una minaccia is often more natural.
- Stronger and more literary than preoccupante; less specific than aggressivo, which suggests active hostility rather than just an intimidating impression.
- It agrees normally: minaccioso, minacciosa, minacciosi, minacciose. Learners often forget feminine plural minacciose.